Frequently Asked Questions - Dog Behavior

Yes. MVHS has Behavior and Training Staff to assist with behavior issues. You can call our Behavior Helpline at 952-894-5000 ex 37.  We also have numerous fact sheets available in our online library.

Your dog has been inadvertently trained ever since he was a puppy to jump up because that is what got him attention and petting. It is also the natural greeting of the dog to be face to face with the new guest, dog or human. Your job is to train your dog to understand that sitting is the appropriate greeting for people. Ask the dog to sit every time someone comes up to you outside and immediately reward your dog for the SIT. Practice this at your front door with another family member
ringing the doorbell and you making your dog sit at the door, controlling him with a collar and leash if necessary. Reward instantly for sitting. You can practice this numerous times a day for quicker learning.

Do not step on your dog’s back feet, push your dog away or yell at your dog for jumping. This only riles him up or makes him afraid of you, depending on the temperament and size of your dog. Ignore all jumping behavior by not touching, or speaking to your dog if he is jumping on you. Don’t even look at him until he stops jumping. Then praise him and reach down and pet him. Keep your hands down and bend to his level if he’s not too excited. You must consistently do this and NEVER give him attention for jumping. If you talk to him or push him some of the time, you will not get rid of the behavior, but only make it worse.

As stated before, your dog should not be left alone in the yard to get into trouble. Some dogs have a stronger drive to dig than others, but for many they are digging because of boredom and not enough exercise. Exercise is key, especially in those first few years to keep your dog from expending his energy in destructive ways such as digging. Your dog may also be digging a spot to lie in. Dirt is cool in the summer and a snow den is shelter from the wind and cold during in the winter. If she is digging as a source of entertainment, you can divert the destruction and give her her own dirt or sand pile in a corner of the yard. Bury toys, bones and treats in it and lead her to it at first. If you keep it interesting, this will be her favorite place to dig and it will keep her from digging up your shrubbery or flowers if you supervise her and direct her to her own pile of dirt.

Here’s what NOT to do. Do not go outside to tell him to be quiet. Do not yell from a window when he is barking and don’t bring him in the house when he is barking. A dog learns that he gets attention or gets to go back inside when he barks. If you only respond sometimes or wait until the barking continues for awhile, you are strengthening the behavior.

When your dog is alone in the backyard, he is not getting exercise because he has no one to play with. He is barking out of boredom. He may be telling you when each leaf falls or if the garbage man is down the street because he has nothing else to do. A dog should never be left tethered or in a fenced yard alone. Let him go potty, play with him, then bring him inside where he will settle much better and sleep safely. If your dog barks excessively, please refer to our Barking Fact Sheet.

Puppies nip and play-bite each other and other dogs as part of dog play. Smaller dogs oftentimes yelp even when not hurt to let overly rambunctious puppies or larger dogs know that they are fragile and require gentle play. You can yelp loudly like a hurt puppy when you feel those sharp teeth on your skin and give your dog a time-out alone in the room.

Thirty to 45 seconds should get your point across. Try calmly reentering the room and leaving again if he persists. You can also divert that play-biting to an appropriate toy or rawhide chew and make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. In many single dog families you are his only playmate, so it is your job to get him tired by getting out walking or running or taking him out to a dog park. A tired dog is a good dog!

Research indicates that a dog can understand play and not turn suddenly aggressive from a game. If your dog is already possessive of toys, tug-of-war should not be an option. For most dogs, however, tug is a great game, if you play by the rules.

1. You start the game. Ignore your dog if he tries to bully you into playing
2. When you ask for the dog to release the toy, he does so. If he refuses, drop the toy and walk away. Game over.
3. If your dog EVER – even accidentally – puts his teeth on your skin or clothing, the game ends. Drop the toy and walk away, no exceptions.
4. Don’t tug harder than your dog tugs on the toy. With these rules, tug is a safe and fun energy- burning game for both of you.

Tools such as the Gentle Leader® Headcollar and the Easy Walk Harness® can aid in walking large and energetic dogs, but training a dog to walk nice on the leash with treats given only when the dog is paying attention to the walker and not pulling or jumping speeds up the process. Also make sure to stop and ask for a SIT when your dog pulls, or turns around and goes the other direction. These two techniques prevent the dog from forging ahead, which is what is motivating the dog to pull in the first place. The strong drive to forge ahead and sniff and explore outweighs the restrictive choking of the collar, so many dogs continue to pull as long as they are allowed to move forward. Don’t hurt your dog, just change direction and continue to be consistent with training.

You might want to attend our free Dog Walker Class. Check the website for details.

You don’t have to use food to train your dog, but it is one of the easiest, quickest and most humane ways of training because it is such a powerful motivator. If you supply this most basic need to your dog, who is an opportunistic feeder, you will get much more attention more quickly than just praise alone and he become very attentive in your presence.

Positive reinforcement is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. Over time you will be able to ask him to do many things without a treat, but you should give him treats intermittently to maintain attention and good behavior. You have to feed your dog every day anyway, so why not make it more interesting and fun for both of you? Of course food is not the only thing dogs like, so don’t forget about praise and petting, or playing, or special toys. Maybe even a car ride or some dog play. Anything a dog values can be used in training as a reward.

The sooner the better! Most veterinarians recommend that the puppy have one or two of the puppy shots before entering class. Therefore, most puppies can start Puppy Kindergarten at 8-12 weeks! A puppy class should have off-leash time for puppy play for maximum socialization. If your dog is older, say six months to 10 years, he is ready for a basic manners class. It is never too late to begin learning! In addition to learning new skills, training classes help strengthen the bond between you and your pet. To choose a training school that is right for you, see our “How to Choose a training School” handout.

A training class will give you the tools you need to use at home to get your dog to behave and listen to you. A trainer can give you an objective opinion when they see you working with your dog on how you train and what your dog is learning from you. A good trainer can also help you solve problems successfully and humanely.

You also have the opportunity to meet other people with dogs who might be having the same problems as you. Training class can help keep your dog socialized. An isolated dog is a fearful dog. You may even meet a perfect playmate for your dog, where he can get his energy out in his own backyard if his new doggy friend comes over to play.

Certainly not! Dogs, like many species, are able to learn throughout their lifetime. It is never too late to help a dog learn new behaviors. However, just as with people, dogs are creatures of habit and can get “set in their ways” as they get older, so training may take a little more time than training a puppy, for whom everything is new and different. If you’ve ever gone back to school or taken up a new activity in your adult life, you know you can succeed with time, especially with the rewards it will bring, so go slow and reward your dog as she learns the things you want her to learn.